Suggestions wanted

[JugV2]

Boy is this embarrassing.

I have never been able to get a blade out of the dispenser.

So RazorMonsta, the pack you sent me has sat unopened. It's been kicked, punched, sworn at, pleaded with, but never used.

So what's the secret to getting a blade out of it? Keen to try one in the Progress I just acquired.

 

[Monsta_AU]

Boy is this embarrassing.

I will only quote that much to lower the embarrassment. And there's a smiley just for you

The trick is to use your thumbs to use gentle, even pressure in the direction of the arrow printed on the blade. Don't try to force it out.

The reason is that they are oil coated blades, and the oil has oxidised somewhat and gone sticky. Heat is usually the way to loosen them up. Some say hot water but I can't recommend that even for stainless blades. I would hit the dispenser with a mid-heat blast from a hairdryer if need be. Not hot as it might damage the plastic, and not so hot as to make the blades so hot that you burn yourself on them.

 

[JugV2]

Ahh that's the secret hey?

I'm not really that worried about it being embarrassing I guess, I just want to be able to use the damn things.

 

[hunnymonster]

I guess the biggest question must be Why?

My 2c on this (as a 5000+ blade holder aged 40) - I went through a sample pack and picked out the ones I planned to buy more of - in the time from acquiring the pack (20 blade types) to deciding on 4 or 5 worthy of further acquisition - all but one had gone out of production.

Not wanting to be left with only Merkurs for the rest of my nat, I took a new direction: buy 100 from eBlag (or whatever made most sense financially) and try 'em - if they're good, buy at least 500 more, otherwise PIF 'em to someone else doing the "find the right blade" thing.

 

[gthomas04]

My 2c on this (as a 5000+ blade holder aged 40) - I went through a sample pack and picked out the ones I planned to buy more of - in the time from acquiring the pack (20 blade types) to deciding on 4 or 5 worthy of further acquisition - all but one had gone out of production.

OK, but is there an enough is enough point? By my calculations, if you shave 5 days a week, and use a new blade every day, you have just under 20 years worth (of course if you get all miserly and extract 2 shaves from each blade you are out to 40 years). Or do you still look for the good deal bulk buys?

Just curious as I currently have 18 blades and about to get some more,thanks to the generosity of a member, and figure I will then be set for some not inconsiderable time.

Please dont take any of this as a criticism (everyone needs a hobby) I am just trying to establish whether you think "I have 5000+ blades" or "I only have 5000+ blades".

 

[Pjotr]

OK, but is there an enough is enough point? By my calculations, if you shave 5 days a week, and use a new blade every day, you have just under 20 years worth (of course if you get all miserly and extract 2 shaves from each blade you are out to 40 years). Or do you still look for the good deal bulk buys?

Just curious as I currently have 18 blades and about to get some more,thanks to the generosity of a member, and figure I will then be set for some not inconsiderable time.

Please dont take any of this as a criticism (everyone needs a hobby) I am just trying to establish whether you think "I have 5000+ blades" or "I only have 5000+ blades".

Aren't they just fascinating creatures these blade collectors. There's no logic to it. I could understand it if someone had thousands of blades that represented all the blades types produced by Gillette or all the blades produced in the USA or something like that. A proper collection. It's more hoarding than collecting really.

 

[gthomas04]

Aren't they just fascinating creatures these blade collectors. There's no logic to it. I could understand it if someone had thousands of blades that represented all the blades types produced by Gillette or all the blades produced in the USA or something like that. A proper collection. It's more hoarding than collecting really.

Ah well different strokes for different folks. I am just curious as to whether they set out with this sort of object in mind or suddenly realised one day they had to climb in a window to get into the house and so might as well just keep going.

 

[Pjotr]

Ah well different strokes for different folks. I am just curious as to whether they set out with this sort of object in mind or suddenly realised one day they had to climb in a window to get into the house and so might as well just keep going.

In their defence (sort of) there is a financial advantage buying blades in bulk i.e. in the hundreds rather than the five pack at the local shop. But buying in the thousands and the prospect of shaving with the same blade for the next 20yrs just doesn't do it for me. In reality the prospect of DE blades becoming obsolete is pretty far fetched. It didn't happen with SE blades, although admittedly the usuable ones are mainly marketed for and used in surgical instruments. I've got 100 SE blades and 200 odd DE blades which together will probably last me 5yrs.

 

[Drubbing]

Hoarding is the word, I think. I can see monsta's rationalisation that he can use them for trades and bargaining chips etc, but given blades are the most subjective tool there is, you got to bank on your stash being a wanted item, and the hype on them being sustained, and perhaps enhanced due to their unavailability. It's a bit like holding pork belly futures.

I guess they are scarce if people want them, but can't get them because you're sitting in 10,000 of them. Then I say, open a store.

I've always been let down by hyped blades, not that I raised my expectations, I think others hyping them probably are. I've stayed with what works for me. I tried finding my perfect blade, to overcome the small compromises I make with the ones I use, but in looking, I just got futher away from the thing I was looking for.

 

[hunnymonster]

I am just trying to establish whether you think "I have 5000+ blades" or "I only have 5000+ blades".

Neither - I see it as "I have enough blades that I like and suit my face to see me out without being concerned with having to redo the blade testing thing", I'm still curious when I see a blade that I've not seen so far (you never know, they might be even better than the ones I have...)

I still divest as well as invest - my stash is very different now in composition to 2 years ago for instance.